Baxter Bayer, who stages the annual Big Elf Run and Easter Fun Run in Vancouver, went to Disneyland on the weekend to take part in the RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon. He was a force on the California course!

Two class-act people who really inject the fun into local runs, plus go that extra mile to ensure those around them keep smiling while training or racing, are home after neat weekend experiences.

Baxter Bayer poses with his medal after completing the RunDisney half marathon. Either that or he had a leg cramp.

Baxter Bayer, the off-the-wall organizer of TheBig Elf and Easter Fun runs, and Debra Kato, West Van Run Club’s queen of the theme costumes, are resting their heels today after taking part in half and full marathons in California and Arizona, respectively.

Bayer, the creator of the priceless Give-A-Gift warm-up drill, took part in the RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon as a Stormtrooper in the Empire’s army. I joked earlier that his Dark Side adventure could be followed on ‘Wookieleaks!’

Kato, who ignored my silly request/dare to run 42.2K dressed up as a cactus or big horn sheep, rode the roller-coaster of emotions in her physically demanding Arizona Marathon (the Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe tour!), part of the entertaining Rock ‘N’ Roll Series that visits Vancouver every October.

Despite muscle aches in the first mile that refused to go away, Kato dug deep to battle through the entire race, albeit she did have to resort to singing and soul-searching to get-er-done! Knowing that finishers received a coveted jacket, she waddled, limped and skipped to the finish line. Would have done the same. Come to think of it, I did — on Sunday for pizza at the Icebreaker 8K!

Here are their interesting recaps, slightly edited because I’m jealous of their swag, shirts, jackets and how much fun they had in the Excited States while we shivered in Steveston!:

Baxter Bayer takes a photo from Corral J before starting the RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon. Not sure if Bayer used two hands to take this neat photo or if it was, ahem, Hand Solo!

Yoda man, Baxter

“Five months ago I registered for the 2017 RunDisney Star Wars Half Marathon — the Lightside. I was one of 35,000 athletes taking part in the half marathon weekend.

RunDisney caters to all walks of life, it’s very costume friendly and when you run Disney you need not worry about the fun factor. I draw a great deal of inspiration from these elements and strive to create this kind of fun and energy for my own running events. Before I ran I thought to myself, enjoy the moments and soak it all in like Gord Kurenoff and Debra Kato do on all of their runs.

Race day started early, caught the shuttle at 4:30 a.m. for a 5:30 a.m. start time. The excitement really kicked in when I arrived to the Star Wars anthem playing on the loudspeaker system in downtown Disney.

A few photo-ops later with the lavish Disney props, I made way to the back of the line in Corral J. After we crossed the start, I was in complete awe the entire first 10K as the course wound its way through both Disney Parks.

Along the route there were characters and Star Wars props, a tunnel of lights and even ran by Jedis in training. The course then took to the palm tree streets of Anaheim. A sophisticated runner-tracking system made it easy for my fiancée (Jana) to cheer me on every step of the way.

Other course highlights included a series of Star Wars vehicles, performances by dozens of high school bands and uplifting cheerleader squads. But the best part was running through a section of 100-plus Star Wars characters lined up giving high-fives and posing for photos.

After finishing I received an impressive medal to go with my commemorative long-sleeved shirt. With the adrenalin still pumping, Jana and I decided to celebrate by exploring California Adventure. In fact, we stayed until it closed. By the time we got back to our Hilton home we’d walked another 17K! Next up? Orlando’s Darth Vader Challenge in April!

Back in our room, I was only on my third or fourth ‘I am one with the Force. The Force is with me’ before I passed right out.

• Baxter’s Easter Fun Run is set for Easter Sunday, April 16 in Stanley Park. For more info, or to register this fun event, click HERE.

Debra Kato ignored muscle aches for about 40K to get her coveted finishers’ jacket and medal in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon that included scenic views in Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe.

Debra does the desert

“This was my 10th marathon, but I did the run two hours slower than my PR. This was my slowest one yet and I still don’t understand it!

The course was nice and flat. The weather was cool and overcast, no wind. There was plenty of support from the volunteers and the entire community. I had every reason to do a PR and didn’t.

I did a lot of soul-searching while pounding the pavement during the race. Is it because I’m getting older? Is it because I wasn’t training right? Can I blame the ice and snow in December back home? Or can I just blame my glutes which started to ache at Mile 1?

Support from the community was top-notch at the Arizona Marathon. To no one’s surprise, Kato stopped to thank them and take their photos!

A lot of weird things go through your mind out there on a 26.2-mile course. I was on the verge of tears several times. I saw a runner who was a kidney and liver donor and I almost lost it. When I saw a runner wearing a sign saying that they were running in memory of somebody, I also teared up.

I was also thinking that maybe I should just throw in the marathon towel, even though I have already signed up for the BMO Vancouver Marathon and the Rock ’N’ Roll Seattle marathon this year.

I tried to do anything and everything to distract myself from the pain. Yes, that was me belting out that Helen Reddy song, ‘I am woman, hear me roar’ at Mile 16. It helped a little!

Somebody who I had been running beside during the race noticed me struggling and kindly asked if it was my first marathon. He had a Marathon Maniac T-shirt so I knew he had done lots of them. I told him, ‘No, it just looks that way!’

He was probably in his 70s and he still beat me. And you know you look like you’re in pain when the pickup wagon people ask you three times during the run if you’re OK and ask if you still want to continue!

I decided to try to walk but for some reason, it hurt to walk. I was better off doing the baby step jog/limp all the way.

Yes, I could have jumped on that wagon-sweeper and put myself out of misery but didn’t. I didn’t use up my AirMiles and fly all this way to just quit! Besides, there was a marathon finishers’ jacket and medal to consider!

Somehow, I completed the race. I had never been so happy to cross a finish line.

I hobbled to the tent to pick up my marathon jacket and then had to hobble to another area to pick up my bag. Then, I had to hobble to get on the train to get to the airport and head home. Can’t wait for the next adventure.”

• The West Van Run Club will hold its awesome 5K and 10K races on March 4 and 5, where you can join Ms. Kato and her fun crew for a weekend event that’s too good to miss. For more info, or to enter that event, clickHERE.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.